When I was straight out of school I assumed that people in positions of leadership were there due to their hard work, knowledge and intelligence. After over 20 years of professional work - often as consultant where I moved between many organizations - a pattern seemed to emerge. Majority of leadership positions are occupied by people with oversized egos who are lacking in professional skills and knowledge, but they got there by being loud bullies with sharp elbows pushing aside more competent, but gentle humans. Is it only me who thinks that?